Nov. 16 through time

100 Years ago – 1925

The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union met at the home of Mrs. Henry S. Teague on South Starling Street. The women talked about more publicity of prohibition advocates, including listing many of the most substantial businessmen of America, declaring the benefits of prohibition. They talked about the national WCTU meeting in Detroit. Mothers were urged to enroll their children at the next meeting of the Loyal Temperance Legion.  Members also were asked to bring a guest to the December meeting as the Christmas offering.

75 years ago – 1950

The 1951 membership of Pannill Post, No. 42, of the American Legion, reached 435. The membership drive would continue until the goal of 525 was reached.

50 years ago – 1975

The Martinsville-Henry County Voters League Chairman Joseph W. Pritchett had said that the city did not employ enough black people. City Manager Tom Noland said that city departments had 155 employees, 23 of them black: four out of 24 in Social Services; two out of 27 in the fire department; eight out of 20 in the city day care center; five (and soon a sixth) out of 47 in the police department; one out of 16 in the city electric department; and another department [but due to preservation error that information is not available].

25 years ago - 2000

Helen Richman, the daughter of Dr. Donald and Barbara Richman of Martinsville, was back in town to perform in music concerts. She and Jenny Mitchell, a pianist and native of Ottawa, Canada, played music together as the duo Essence. Both met while students at McGill University. They performed traditional piano and flute repertoire. The Richmans lived on Knollwood Drive in a large brick house with breathtakingly beautiful terraced gardens in their side and back yards.

— Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin.